yard disasters and an owl recovery.

Monday was rather adventurous. 

Upon returning home from the gym, I decided I would take care of a few small tasks that had been lingering about since before Husband's departure, and since the neighbor boy flaked on me, again.  I felt there was no choice but to take matters into my own hands.

You see, Husband made it quite clear in our early stages of marriage that he did not care for yard work. In fact, I've had to haul many a things out of the yard that were not meant to be "yard ornaments."  I'm just not that type.  Heavens, my Father earned himself a Vancouver Sparkles Award for his yard manicuring skills,  {Dad, where's your t-shirt?} so anything that doesn't grow with soil should not. be. in. the. yard.

period. period. PERIOD!!

Besides the attempted yard ornaments, i.e. the old toilet from the remodel, my creme brulee torch, and various tools that I've since removed and stowed away in the appropriate vicinity.  Husband is not much into mowing the lawn, either.  He blames it on his allergies. 

You see Husband is quite smart. 

{Point A} The minute he received the yard maintenance flier earlier this year, he picked up his phone and hired out our 1/48th of an acre worth of grass to the neighbor boy.  It takes the boy six minutes to compete the task, including picking up all of rocks that Asher has launched from the rock bed into the grass.  Although our lawn rates a one for simplicity, I believe the easy task has become a waste of time for the boy, because he has left me hanging for his services a handful of times recently. 

Hence, me saying, I took matters into my own hands.

{Point B} There was logic when Husband bought a $10 mower, I know it.  Something like...the older you buy, the sooner you can quit mowing.  During the summer, our lawn went almost completely dead.  I was embarrassed and hurt for our neighbors.  I finally talked Husband into buying fertilizer and a portable sprinkler to water.  "Don't you want green grass?" I asked him.  "No. Cause then I have to mow it!" 

It was then that I realized that we may never see eye to eye on yard maintenance. 

Throwing out all excuses, I decided to take care of business myself.  After waiting for all the neighbors outside to leave the neighborhood and/or go back into their homes, I attempted to start up the $10 mower, with Asher looking on.  Of course, I did so on the concrete between the garage and the car, so no one could see me attempt to start the piece.  Maybe it didn't start for me because I was on the concrete and it would have killed me, I don't know?  But I pulled and pulled to no avail.  Then I did a quick double-pull with no success.  After a few more tries, I gave up feeling like a fool, feeling insecure that even one person may have seen me trying to mow my lawn for the first time...with no avail. 

Then my kind neighbor pulled up.  She is a lawn-mowing maniac.  That woman works her yard to the max.  I knew she'd have a decent lawn-mower for me to borrow, and would probably jump at the chance to help me help my yard.  And she did.  I had to call her over to find out why it wasn't starting, but I quickly learned that you even have to pull start the new mowers.  I felt like an idiot.  C'mon.  We can push a button for just about everything else nowadays.  I think she knew I felt like an idiot.  She was kind and let me mow our small patch of grass, and now I feel like I'm keeping up with the Jones' {yard crew}.

Once I had the grass taken care of, I opened the scary garage.  Husband informed me before he left to hunt, that he saw a large mouse in the garage.  Feeling overwhelmingly determined, I lost all train of mouse- thoughts and opened the garage to let the sun shine in, and {hopefully} the mouse creep out.

I then found myself the latter, and settled it up against the shelves to begin my search.  To my surprise, one of the first boxes I laid eyes on was exactly what I was looking for. 

Remember that fine owl collection?  Here is what I recovered:

a mini owl family

 A few kooks



this sweet yellow owl

and a couple more.

I am so happy to have found this bunch!

I'm especially excited to have a collection!

And after the baby shower that I attended last Sunday,

you'll see why I think collecting owls is so darn fun!

{Look for the cutest owl shower post on Friday.}

As for the yard dilemma, for now it is solved and mowed.

We are all thrilled,

and can't wait to show Dad.